Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
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Our Father in heaven,
00:01:15.31\00:01:18.24
what a wonderful privilege
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that is to be in Your house
of worship on Your holy Sabbath.
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We ask Father, that
as we open Your word
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that Your spirit
will be in this place.
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Give us clear
minds and tender hearts
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to understand and
to receive Your word.
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And we thank You
for hearing our prayer
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for we ask it in the
precious name of Jesus, amen.
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I want to invite you to
open your Bibles with me
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to the 2 Book of
Timothy, the 2 Book of Timothy
00:01:49.24\00:01:55.46
and our study today
will be from chapter 4
00:01:55.49\00:01:59.10
and verses 1 through 5.
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Now before we read these verses
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I would like to say something
about the Pastoral Epistles.
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Basically, the Pastoral
Epistles are 1 and 2 Timothy
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and also the Book of Titus.
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Now they're called
the Pastoral Epistles
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because they were written
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to two particular
pastors in the early church.
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One of them of
course, was Timothy
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and the other was Titus.
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Now you'll be probably wondering
00:02:36.72\00:02:38.31
why Pastor Bohr would
preach a sermon based on books
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that were written to preachers.
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You might say well Pastor Bohr,
00:02:45.95\00:02:47.34
those books were written for you
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they were not
written for the congregation.
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Why would you
preach about two books
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where the Apostle Paul is
giving his counsel to pastors?
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Well, there're
actually two reasons why.
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Number one, I want
you to understand today
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the reason why I preach as I do.
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Actually, there're some people
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who think that my
preaching is a bit strong
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and they're probably right.
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But we're gonna
notice in our study today
00:03:21.28\00:03:23.85
the reason why this is the case.
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The Apostle Paul had
some very definite counsel
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that he gave to Timothy about
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what his preaching
should involve and I believe
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that I need to accept
and receive that counsel.
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Secondly, even
though these books
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were written to
these two pastors.
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The Book of 2 Timothy
also explains some things
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about the reaction of people
to the message of the preachers.
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In other words not only
do the books speak about
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how preachers should preach
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but the books actually
address how people respond
00:04:02.63\00:04:06.97
to the messages
of the preachers.
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Now before we read this passage
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I need to tell
you a few more things
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about the Pastoral Epistles,
1 and 2 Timothy and Titus.
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These books really are a
church administration manual.
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Basically, they deal
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with the governance
of the local church life.
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You see, the
Apostle Paul had established
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churches all
over the Roman Empire.
00:04:35.92\00:04:39.04
He had organized churches
according to the gospel order.
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In other words he
had established leaders
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such as bishops,
deacons and elders.
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And because the
church had been organized
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it was necessary to have a
manual to govern the church
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to describe the duties
of each of these officers
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of the church and to teach them
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what they needed to do
to administrate the church.
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So really 1 and 2 Timothy
and Titus are books that deal
00:05:03.53\00:05:07.80
with the administration
of the local church.
00:05:07.83\00:05:12.09
Now when the Apostle
Paul wrote these letters
00:05:12.12\00:05:15.78
to Timothy and to Titus
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he was in his second
imprisonment in Rome.
00:05:17.97\00:05:22.43
In fact he was about to be
beheaded by the Emperor Nero.
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And as he was there in
prison awaiting execution
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the Apostle Paul
felt a great urgency
00:05:32.83\00:05:37.55
concerning certain
heresies and teachings
00:05:37.58\00:05:40.59
that were beginning to
creep into the Christian church.
00:05:40.62\00:05:44.10
In fact, in these epistles
00:05:44.13\00:05:45.48
we find a
somewhat different tone
00:05:45.51\00:05:48.57
than in the other
writings of the Apostle Paul.
00:05:48.60\00:05:51.96
In these epistles 1
and 2 Timothy and Titus
00:05:51.99\00:05:56.81
the Apostle Paul uses
certain very key expressions
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such as for example he speaks
of the importance of the truth.
00:06:03.52\00:06:09.84
He speaks about the
faith not having faith
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but the faith, the
content of the faith.
00:06:13.87\00:06:17.59
He uses the
expression sound doctrine
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very frequently
in these letters.
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It becomes very
clear that the Apostle Paul
00:06:24.15\00:06:26.58
is concerned about
doctrinal orthodoxy.
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He is concerned about
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what is been taught
in the Christian church.
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He is interested
in the preservation
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of sound doctrine
because he is in prison
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he is about to die
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he sees heresy
creeping into the church.
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In fact he speaks about
wolfs coming in among the flock
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and not sparing the flock.
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And so the Apostle Paul
now speaks about the importance
00:06:51.76\00:06:55.32
of the faith the
truth and sound doctrine.
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Now I want to read the passage
that we are going to study
00:07:01.41\00:07:04.40
particularly this morning,
00:07:04.43\00:07:06.91
2 Timothy 4:1-5.
00:07:06.94\00:07:13.47
Remember, that
here the Apostle Paul
00:07:13.50\00:07:14.90
is speaking to a
preacher speaking to Timothy.
00:07:14.93\00:07:18.84
"I charge you
therefore before God,
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and the Lord Jesus Christ,
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who will judge the
living and the dead
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at His
appearing and His kingdom.
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Preach the word!
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Be ready in
season, out of season.
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Convince, rebuke, exhort,
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with all
longsuffering and teaching.
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For the time will come when they
will not endure sound doctrine,
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but according to
their own desires,
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because they have itching ears
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they will heap up
for themselves teachers
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and they will turn away
their ears away from the truth,
00:07:58.15\00:08:02.20
and be turned aside to fables."
00:08:02.23\00:08:07.15
Now this is the passage
that we're going to look
00:08:07.18\00:08:09.20
at particularly
in our study today.
00:08:09.23\00:08:13.50
And basically
what we are gonna do
00:08:13.53\00:08:14.92
is go phrase by
phrase and try and determine
00:08:14.95\00:08:18.96
the meaning of
each phrase to find out
00:08:18.99\00:08:21.16
why the Apostle Paul
is giving this counsel
00:08:21.19\00:08:23.99
to Timothy as Paul is
sitting in prison in Rome.
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You notice first of all that
the passage begins by saying
00:08:29.38\00:08:32.12
"I charge you
therefore before God,
00:08:32.15\00:08:35.26
and Lord Jesus Christ,
00:08:35.29\00:08:37.18
who will judge the
living and the dead
00:08:37.21\00:08:39.01
at His appearing
and His kingdom."
00:08:39.04\00:08:41.94
Now that expression
I charge you originally
00:08:41.97\00:08:45.75
in Greek meant to take
an oath in a court of law.
00:08:45.78\00:08:51.32
And for a legal
proceeding to be valid
00:08:51.35\00:08:54.84
you have to have at least
two witnesses in the proceeding.
00:08:54.87\00:08:59.10
What the Apostle Paul is
saying is I'm now giving an oath
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before the two
witnesses the Father
00:09:04.60\00:09:07.08
and Jesus Christ his Son.
00:09:07.11\00:09:09.28
In other words, I'm taking
at oath in a court of law.
00:09:09.31\00:09:13.81
I'm suddenly witnessing
before God that Timothy,
00:09:13.84\00:09:18.87
you are to
preach the Word of God.
00:09:18.90\00:09:23.55
In other words this
introductory formula
00:09:23.58\00:09:25.55
makes this very, very serious
00:09:25.58\00:09:27.99
the Apostle Paul is
giving this counsel under oath
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in the presence of Jesus Christ,
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in the presence
of God the Father.
00:09:33.94\00:09:36.56
It must be extremely important
00:09:36.59\00:09:38.68
and the Apostle
Paul is saying the reason
00:09:38.71\00:09:40.58
why I'm taking this oath
before Jesus and His Father
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is because I'm going to
be judged when Jesus comes
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and you are going to be
judged when Jesus comes.
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Now notice that
thepassage continues saying
00:09:52.13\00:09:54.88
to Timothy preach the Word.
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Now the question
immediately comes up
00:10:00.67\00:10:03.03
which word was the
Apostle Paul talking about.
00:10:03.06\00:10:06.69
Well, if you look
at the previous verses
00:10:06.72\00:10:09.10
in the immediately preceding
chapter you're gonna notice
00:10:09.13\00:10:12.61
that the Apostle
Paul commenced Timothy
00:10:12.64\00:10:15.07
because he has
studied the Holy Scriptures
00:10:15.10\00:10:17.88
since the time
that he was a child.
00:10:17.91\00:10:20.71
And then the
Apostle Paul goes on to say
00:10:20.74\00:10:23.58
that every
scripture is inspired by God.
00:10:23.61\00:10:28.74
So the scriptures
that the Apostle Paul
00:10:28.77\00:10:31.07
is speaking about in
context are the Holy Scriptures.
00:10:31.10\00:10:35.38
In other words the Bible
00:10:35.41\00:10:37.58
if you please the written
holy inspired Word of God.
00:10:37.61\00:10:45.34
So the Apostle Paul says
to Timothy preach the Word.
00:10:45.37\00:10:50.93
And then he says be ready.
00:10:50.96\00:10:53.63
What does that mean be ready?
00:10:53.66\00:10:56.13
It simply means be ready
00:10:56.16\00:10:59.12
at any moment
to preach the word.
00:10:59.15\00:11:02.90
In fact, the next expression
00:11:02.93\00:11:04.49
is be ready in
season and out of season.
00:11:04.52\00:11:08.78
That means with advance notice
and with no advance notice.
00:11:08.81\00:11:13.22
In other words,
you should always
00:11:13.25\00:11:14.59
have sermons in
your Bible so to speak
00:11:14.62\00:11:21.27
so that you can preach
if you're asked to do so.
00:11:21.30\00:11:24.51
Not only when
you're told in advance
00:11:24.54\00:11:26.65
but on the spur of the moment.
00:11:26.68\00:11:28.65
In other words,
you should be ready
00:11:28.68\00:11:30.28
to preach the Word
of God at all times.
00:11:30.31\00:11:35.23
Now it's important to
notice that in this passage
00:11:35.26\00:11:38.12
there are nine imperatives.
00:11:38.15\00:11:41.22
Now you probably
know what imperatives are,
00:11:41.25\00:11:43.54
imperatives are a
command, they are an order.
00:11:43.57\00:11:47.29
Here the Apostle
Paul isn't saying
00:11:47.32\00:11:49.25
"you know it would be nice
if you could preach the Word.
00:11:49.28\00:11:52.61
It would be nice if you're ready
00:11:52.64\00:11:55.23
to preach in
season and out of season,
00:11:55.26\00:11:57.67
when it's convenient
when it's inconvenient."
00:11:57.70\00:12:00.17
The Apostle Paul
isn't saying that.
00:12:00.20\00:12:02.08
These are imperatives.
00:12:02.11\00:12:03.58
He is giving Timothy a command.
00:12:03.61\00:12:05.41
He is saying "Be ready to preach
00:12:05.44\00:12:08.96
when it's
convenient and inconvenient,
00:12:08.99\00:12:11.31
in season out of season,
00:12:11.34\00:12:13.24
on the spur of the
moment and with advance notice."
00:12:13.27\00:12:17.78
In other words, this
is an order from God.
00:12:17.81\00:12:21.74
Now the question
is what is Timothy
00:12:21.77\00:12:24.56
supposed to preach
out of the Word of God.
00:12:24.59\00:12:27.07
How is he supposed to employ
00:12:27.10\00:12:29.59
the Word of God
in his preaching?
00:12:29.62\00:12:32.71
Well, you find
additional imperatives.
00:12:32.74\00:12:36.02
The first word which is used is,
00:12:36.05\00:12:39.24
be ready to
preach the Word of God
00:12:39.27\00:12:42.24
in season and out of season
00:12:42.27\00:12:44.65
and then it says 'convince'
00:12:44.68\00:12:47.86
I'm using the New King
James Version, 'convince.'
00:12:47.89\00:12:51.62
Now that word 'convince'
means to convict of error
00:12:51.65\00:12:56.00
because you
have sufficient proof
00:12:56.03\00:12:59.05
to convince
someone of their error
00:12:59.08\00:13:01.56
because you have
sufficient proof.
00:13:01.59\00:13:05.13
Allow me to give
you two or three texts
00:13:05.16\00:13:06.90
which use the same
word, 1 Timothy 5:20,
00:13:06.93\00:13:11.58
the Apostle Paul
uses this word in saying
00:13:11.61\00:13:13.76
"Those who are sinning
rebuke in the presence of all,
00:13:13.79\00:13:18.62
that the rest may fear."
00:13:18.65\00:13:22.14
The translation here is rebuke.
00:13:22.17\00:13:24.35
In other words, individuals are
sinning and these individuals
00:13:24.38\00:13:27.93
who are sinning need to
be convinced of their error.
00:13:27.96\00:13:31.48
Also in Ephesians
5:11 the Apostle Paul says
00:13:31.51\00:13:35.68
"And have no fellowship
00:13:35.71\00:13:37.34
with the
unfruitful works of darkness,
00:13:37.37\00:13:40.25
but rather expose them."
00:13:40.28\00:13:43.13
See there the word
'expose' is the same word.
00:13:43.16\00:13:45.90
It is to convict of error
00:13:45.93\00:13:48.43
because you have
sufficient proof.
00:13:48.46\00:13:50.98
And then of
course, you have Luke 3:19
00:13:51.01\00:13:54.00
where John the
Baptist rebuked Herod
00:13:54.03\00:13:57.02
for marrying his brother's wife.
00:13:57.05\00:14:00.28
So basically, the
Apostle Paul is saying
00:14:00.31\00:14:02.78
that the preacher is
supposed to convict of error
00:14:02.81\00:14:06.61
because the preacher
has sufficient proof that,
00:14:06.64\00:14:09.42
that's what needs to happen.
00:14:09.45\00:14:12.36
And then we have
another imperative
00:14:12.39\00:14:14.69
convince is the first
one, rebuke is the next one.
00:14:14.72\00:14:20.64
Now what does rebuke mean?
00:14:20.67\00:14:23.53
In the Greek language, in which
the New Testament was written,
00:14:23.56\00:14:26.89
rebuke means, to warn in
order to prevent an action
00:14:26.92\00:14:32.43
or in order to
bring an action to an end.
00:14:32.46\00:14:35.50
To prevent an action or
to bring an action to an end.
00:14:35.53\00:14:40.08
Perhaps, several
texts from the New Testament
00:14:40.11\00:14:42.31
will help us understand
the meaning of this word.
00:14:42.34\00:14:45.43
For example, in Matthew 8:26
00:14:45.46\00:14:47.79
we are told that the
Lord Jesus rebuked the winds
00:14:47.82\00:14:52.36
when the storm was on the lake.
00:14:52.39\00:14:54.21
In other words, He was trying
00:14:54.24\00:14:55.49
to get the
winds to stop blowing.
00:14:55.52\00:14:58.83
Stop their wrong
behavior if you please.
00:14:58.86\00:15:02.40
Then you have for
example Matthew 8:26
00:15:02.43\00:15:05.59
where the disciples
rebuked the children
00:15:05.62\00:15:08.30
and try to keep them
from coming to Jesus.
00:15:08.33\00:15:12.02
You also have Matthew 19:1
00:15:12.05\00:15:16.50
where, where you have a
similar use of this word.
00:15:16.53\00:15:20.67
Basically, it means to warn
in order to prevent an action
00:15:20.70\00:15:25.48
or bring an action to an end.
00:15:25.51\00:15:28.47
In this case it would be
to prevent a wrong action
00:15:28.50\00:15:32.52
or to bring a
wrong action to and end.
00:15:32.55\00:15:36.38
Now this isn't a pleasant
job but it needs to be done.
00:15:36.41\00:15:40.75
The Apostle Paul is
saying you must convict
00:15:40.78\00:15:44.70
you must rebuke
and then of course
00:15:44.73\00:15:48.57
he uses another
imperative which is to exhort.
00:15:48.60\00:15:53.10
Now this is a positive word.
00:15:53.13\00:15:55.37
It's a same word that is used
to speak about the Holy Spirit.
00:15:55.40\00:15:58.65
We speak of the
Holy Spirit as Paraclete.
00:15:58.68\00:16:01.53
We speak of the Holy
Spirit as he who has called
00:16:01.56\00:16:04.29
alongside someone,
the helper if you please.
00:16:04.32\00:16:08.81
This word 'exhort'
means to call someone
00:16:08.84\00:16:11.65
to your side to help you.
00:16:11.68\00:16:14.44
For example, in Titus
1:9 Paul tells the elders
00:16:14.47\00:16:19.71
that they're to
encourage the members.
00:16:19.74\00:16:22.37
They are to help members.
00:16:22.40\00:16:24.65
the members of the church
00:16:24.68\00:16:28.26
are told to
encourage one and another.
00:16:28.29\00:16:30.60
So in other words,
the work of preaching
00:16:30.63\00:16:32.70
according to the Apostle Paul
00:16:32.73\00:16:34.22
does not only
involve convicting of error,
00:16:34.25\00:16:37.00
does not involve only
rebuking wrong behavior
00:16:37.03\00:16:40.85
to bring it to an end or
to prevent wrong behavior
00:16:40.88\00:16:43.94
but it also involves
encouraging the church,
00:16:43.97\00:16:47.90
encouraging those who are
listening to the preaching.
00:16:47.93\00:16:52.94
Then the Apostle Paul continues
saying here in chapter 4
00:16:52.97\00:16:56.61
"that this is to be
done with all longsuffering."
00:16:56.64\00:17:01.62
In other words, the preaching
needs to be done with patience.
00:17:01.65\00:17:05.20
The word 'longsuffering'
simply means patience
00:17:05.23\00:17:09.35
we don't use the
word 'longsuffering'
00:17:09.38\00:17:11.03
very much anymore.
00:17:11.06\00:17:12.63
It means that the
preacher is supposed to convict,
00:17:12.66\00:17:16.40
he is supposed to
rebuke, he is supposed to exhort
00:17:16.43\00:17:19.96
or help with longsuffering.
00:17:19.99\00:17:23.28
In other words with patience
00:17:23.31\00:17:24.92
because sometimes the preaching
00:17:24.95\00:17:26.96
does not produce
immediate fruits.
00:17:26.99\00:17:31.44
Now what is he
supposed to exhort people with?
00:17:31.47\00:17:33.78
How is he supposed
to perform this task?
00:17:33.81\00:17:36.79
Well, the fact is the
passage continues saying
00:17:36.82\00:17:39.89
"exhort with all
longsuffering and teaching."
00:17:39.92\00:17:46.27
Now this word
teaching does not refer
00:17:46.30\00:17:47.92
to the content of the teaching.
00:17:47.95\00:17:50.47
It refers to
the act of teaching.
00:17:50.50\00:17:54.41
In other words, it refers
to teaching as an activity.
00:17:54.44\00:17:57.93
In other words, the preacher
is really supposed to be what?
00:17:57.96\00:18:02.42
The preacher is
supposed to be a teacher
00:18:02.45\00:18:05.53
because he is
supposed to rebuke,
00:18:05.56\00:18:08.15
he is supposed to help,
00:18:08.18\00:18:10.03
he is supposed to convict
with teaching according to this.
00:18:10.06\00:18:14.79
In other words,
preaching should be teaching.
00:18:14.82\00:18:17.58
What the Apostle Paul is
saying is that an individual
00:18:17.61\00:18:22.25
who is called to the gospel
ministry needs to be a patient
00:18:22.28\00:18:27.36
or longsuffering teacher.
00:18:27.39\00:18:31.64
Now immediately we
are asked the question
00:18:31.67\00:18:33.42
why is it necessary
for a preacher to exhort?
00:18:33.45\00:18:40.86
Why is it necessary
for a preacher to convict?
00:18:40.89\00:18:44.77
Why is it necessary
for a preacher to help
00:18:44.80\00:18:48.87
or to come alongside someone
00:18:48.90\00:18:55.72
to encourage them why is this?
00:18:55.75\00:18:59.01
Notice the
passage continues saying
00:18:59.04\00:19:01.65
and here we reach
the most important part
00:19:01.68\00:19:04.55
of our study today
"for the time will come."
00:19:04.58\00:19:11.67
There is a time
that's gonna come.
00:19:11.70\00:19:14.73
Now what does this
mean, for the time will come?
00:19:14.76\00:19:17.79
The time will come when what?
00:19:17.82\00:19:20.80
Well, let's continue
reading "The time will come
00:19:20.83\00:19:24.41
when they" I
wonder who are the they
00:19:24.44\00:19:28.38
that are referred to
here by the Apostle Paul.
00:19:28.41\00:19:30.53
"The time is coming when they."
00:19:30.56\00:19:35.09
You know if you'll
read the Pastoral Epistles--
00:19:35.12\00:19:36.78
we don't have time now
to read all of the verses.
00:19:36.81\00:19:39.40
But in the Pastoral Epistles
the Apostle Paul is speaking
00:19:39.43\00:19:42.94
to members of the church.
00:19:42.97\00:19:45.61
I mention that this is a
church discipline manual.
00:19:45.64\00:19:48.74
This is a church
organization manual.
00:19:48.77\00:19:51.76
So when the Apostle Paul says
when they the time will come
00:19:51.79\00:19:54.94
when they he is not
referring to Gentiles,
00:19:54.97\00:19:57.97
he is not referring to Pagans,
he is referring to people
00:19:58.00\00:20:01.96
who profess the name of Jesus.
00:20:01.99\00:20:03.91
The time is coming when they
00:20:03.94\00:20:06.57
when they will
not, will not what?
00:20:06.60\00:20:09.08
Notice, when they
will not endure what?
00:20:09.11\00:20:16.44
Sound doctrine.
00:20:16.47\00:20:19.42
That word 'endure' means
that they'll not tolerate,
00:20:19.45\00:20:23.88
they'll not put up
with sound doctrine.
00:20:23.91\00:20:29.38
What is the
Apostle Paul tell Timothy
00:20:29.41\00:20:31.14
that he's supposed
to preach this way.
00:20:31.17\00:20:32.64
Preach the word, be ready
in season and out of season,
00:20:32.67\00:20:38.75
convict, rebuke, exhort.
00:20:38.78\00:20:44.60
These are all imperatives.
00:20:44.63\00:20:46.70
Its Paul's
counsel to the preacher.
00:20:46.73\00:20:49.78
And then he says
the reason for this
00:20:49.81\00:20:51.64
is because the time
is coming when those
00:20:51.67\00:20:56.07
who profess the name
of Jesus will not tolerate
00:20:56.10\00:21:00.72
or they will not put
up with sound doctrine.
00:21:00.75\00:21:06.81
Now the Apostle
Paul is not talking
00:21:06.84\00:21:08.48
about teaching `as a method
00:21:08.51\00:21:10.11
the Apostle Paul is speaking
00:21:10.14\00:21:12.16
about the
content of the preaching.
00:21:12.19\00:21:16.60
In other words, when
he speaks about doctrine
00:21:16.63\00:21:18.46
he is talking
about the doctrines
00:21:18.49\00:21:19.65
as we understand them
in the Adventist church.
00:21:19.68\00:21:22.09
We have 28 fundamental beliefs,
28 fundamental doctrines.
00:21:22.12\00:21:26.84
The Apostle
Paul is talking about
00:21:26.87\00:21:28.36
the doctrinal
content of the scriptures.
00:21:28.39\00:21:30.85
He is saying
that within the church
00:21:30.88\00:21:32.30
the time is
coming when those who are
00:21:32.33\00:21:35.00
in the church will not
tolerate sound doctrine.
00:21:35.03\00:21:39.13
By the way, the word
'sound' here is used elsewhere
00:21:39.16\00:21:42.37
in the New Testament to
refer to someone who is healthy.
00:21:42.40\00:21:47.55
Physically
healthy it has it's a word
00:21:47.58\00:21:49.35
that has to do with health.
00:21:49.38\00:21:51.49
In other words they will
not endure healthy doctrine.
00:21:51.52\00:21:54.97
They'll what,
doctrines we're gonna notice
00:21:55.00\00:21:56.97
that make
people spiritually sick
00:21:57.00\00:21:59.70
rather than spiritually well.
00:21:59.73\00:22:02.55
Now what was the
Apostle Paul talking about
00:22:02.58\00:22:05.15
when he said that they
would not endure sound doctrine.
00:22:05.18\00:22:10.10
Allow me to read you
00:22:10.13\00:22:11.16
from 1 Timothy
1:9 a list of things
00:22:11.19\00:22:15.06
that the Apostle Paul talks
about as referring to doctrine
00:22:15.09\00:22:19.09
which is not
healthy which is not good.
00:22:19.12\00:22:22.95
First Timothy Chapter 1
00:22:22.98\00:22:25.37
and we'll begin
reading at verse 9.
00:22:25.40\00:22:30.17
The Apostle Paul
says this "Knowing this
00:22:30.20\00:22:33.76
that the law is not
made for a righteous person,
00:22:33.79\00:22:36.56
but for the
lawless and insubordinate,
00:22:36.59\00:22:39.58
for the ungodly and for sinners,
00:22:39.61\00:22:42.15
for the unholy and profane,
00:22:42.18\00:22:44.60
for murderers of fathers
and murderers of mothers,
00:22:44.63\00:22:48.02
for manslayers, for fornicators,
00:22:48.05\00:22:50.02
for sodomites, for kidnappers,
00:22:50.05\00:22:51.95
for liars, for perjurers,
00:22:51.98\00:22:54.03
and if there is any
other thing that is" what?
00:22:54.06\00:22:58.96
"Contrary to sound doctrine."
00:22:58.99\00:23:02.66
So if people are not
accepting sound doctrine
00:23:02.69\00:23:06.76
it must be that they must
be categorized in this list.
00:23:06.79\00:23:11.48
Are you following me or not?
00:23:11.51\00:23:13.65
And the interesting
thing is that the Apostle Paul
00:23:13.68\00:23:15.76
is not speaking to individuals
00:23:15.79\00:23:18.07
who are outside
the covenant community
00:23:18.10\00:23:20.44
the Apostle Paul
is speaking to people
00:23:20.47\00:23:22.79
who belong to the church.
00:23:22.82\00:23:25.84
You'll say how is it possible
00:23:25.87\00:23:27.11
that you could say
thatall of this list of sins
00:23:27.14\00:23:30.19
that I have mentioned
here could characterize
00:23:30.22\00:23:32.48
what is happening in
the Christian church.
00:23:32.51\00:23:34.99
Well the Apostle Paul says
that this is sound doctrine
00:23:35.02\00:23:39.36
if you reject these things
in the behavior of your life.
00:23:39.39\00:23:45.39
So they're gonna
reject sound doctrine
00:23:45.42\00:23:47.98
the Apostle Paul says preaching.
00:23:48.01\00:23:50.02
He doesn't says
well, because they're gonna
00:23:50.05\00:23:51.38
reject sound doctrine
just people and correct,
00:23:51.41\00:23:55.26
you know, don't
tell it like it is,
00:23:55.29\00:23:57.14
just be smooth and soft,
00:23:57.17\00:23:58.77
don't offend anybody
that's not what he says.
00:23:58.80\00:24:01.00
He says preach the
word. Tell it like it is.
00:24:01.03\00:24:06.73
Now what are these
people gonna want to do.
00:24:06.76\00:24:09.28
He says that they will
not endure sound doctrine.
00:24:09.31\00:24:13.94
So what will
they do then instead
00:24:13.97\00:24:16.97
but rather after their own what?
00:24:17.00\00:24:21.04
After their own lust
they will pile up teachers.
00:24:21.07\00:24:28.01
Now in a moment we're gonna
talk about piling up teachers
00:24:28.04\00:24:30.82
but after their own lusts
00:24:30.85\00:24:32.58
I want to talk a little
bit about that expression.
00:24:32.61\00:24:35.61
The word 'lust' in
Greek is the word 'epithumia.'
00:24:35.64\00:24:40.67
It can be used
in a negative sense,
00:24:40.70\00:24:43.32
a neutral sense
and a positive sense.
00:24:43.35\00:24:47.53
You know, I can give
you a couple of examples
00:24:47.56\00:24:49.53
of the word being
used in positive sense
00:24:49.56\00:24:52.18
basically it means desires.
00:24:52.21\00:24:54.78
For example 1 Thessalonians 2:17
00:24:54.81\00:24:56.93
the Apostle Paul
says that he desires
00:24:56.96\00:24:58.67
to see the faces
of the Thessalonians.
00:24:58.70\00:25:02.02
He desires, see there
its positive nothing bad.
00:25:02.05\00:25:05.98
In Philippians 1:23
00:25:06.01\00:25:08.03
the Apostle Paul
says that he desires,
00:25:08.06\00:25:10.85
he has a
burning desire to depart
00:25:10.88\00:25:12.98
and to be with Jesus.
00:25:13.01\00:25:14.04
See, there it's positive
00:25:14.07\00:25:15.50
that the desire
that he has spoken about.
00:25:15.53\00:25:17.97
But in most cases
in the New Testament
00:25:18.00\00:25:20.01
the Greek word 'epithumia'
means something negative.
00:25:20.04\00:25:24.43
It means wicked evil passions
that are found inside the heart
00:25:24.46\00:25:29.48
which are
manifested in evil actions.
00:25:29.51\00:25:32.68
Let me give you some examples.
00:25:32.71\00:25:34.65
Galatians 5:24
the Apostle Paul says
00:25:34.68\00:25:38.07
"that those who
have received Christ
00:25:38.10\00:25:39.98
have crucified the flesh
with its affections and lusts."
00:25:40.01\00:25:45.30
See it's the lusts of the flesh.
00:25:45.33\00:25:48.43
First Timothy 9:10
the Apostle Paul speaks
00:25:48.46\00:25:51.59
about the rich who fall
into many hurtful lusts,
00:25:51.62\00:25:56.34
there it's used in
the negative sense.
00:25:56.37\00:25:58.82
Second Timothy 2:22
00:25:58.85\00:26:00.42
the Apostle Paul speaks to youth
00:26:00.45\00:26:03.74
in fact he speaks
about youth for lusts
00:26:03.77\00:26:06.27
in the area of sexual relations.
00:26:06.30\00:26:09.41
In Romans 13:14
00:26:09.44\00:26:11.05
the Apostle Paul speaks
about making no provision
00:26:11.08\00:26:14.10
to fulfill the
lusts of the flesh.
00:26:14.13\00:26:18.08
In Romans 6:12,
00:26:18.11\00:26:19.61
the Apostle Paul says
"do not allow sin to reign
00:26:19.64\00:26:23.57
in your mortal bodies
to obey the lusts thereof."
00:26:23.60\00:26:28.94
And then you have 2 Peter 3:3
where the Apostle Peter tells us
00:26:28.97\00:26:33.99
"that in the last
days people will walk
00:26:34.02\00:26:36.21
according to their own lusts."
00:26:36.24\00:26:39.66
So basically the word 'lusts'
here refers to evil desires,
00:26:39.69\00:26:45.75
simple desires that
are found in the heart
00:26:45.78\00:26:48.80
which express
themselves in evil actions.
00:26:48.83\00:26:53.50
And so the Apostle Paul is
saying that the time is coming
00:26:53.53\00:26:57.38
when many in the church
will not tolerate sound doctrine
00:26:57.41\00:27:02.08
but rather according to their
own sinful lustful evil desires
00:27:02.11\00:27:08.75
they're going to do something,
00:27:10.33\00:27:11.60
they're going to
pile up teachers.
00:27:11.63\00:27:12.97
Now, before I talk
about piling up teachers
00:27:13.00\00:27:16.89
let me ask you,
you probably wonder,
00:27:16.92\00:27:18.19
how it is possible Pastor Bohr,
00:27:18.22\00:27:20.04
that this could be a
description of things
00:27:20.07\00:27:21.84
that are happening
within the Christian church?
00:27:21.87\00:27:25.84
The fact is folks, if we
are honest with our selves
00:27:25.87\00:27:29.42
Christians today watch
what the world watches,
00:27:29.45\00:27:32.70
they listen to what
the world listens to,
00:27:32.73\00:27:35.81
they participate
in the entertainment
00:27:35.84\00:27:37.87
that the world participates in,
00:27:37.90\00:27:40.40
they dress as the world dresses,
00:27:40.43\00:27:42.80
they eat and drink as
the world eats and drinks,
00:27:42.83\00:27:46.48
they lie and they
cheat as the world does,
00:27:46.51\00:27:51.27
they divorce and
get married again
00:27:51.30\00:27:54.72
multiple times as
happens in the world.
00:27:54.75\00:28:00.41
You know what,
I'm saying the truth
00:28:00.44\00:28:02.98
and it's
happening within the church.
00:28:03.01\00:28:06.82
So you're saying
Pastor Bohr, you're saying
00:28:06.85\00:28:09.43
"that these individuals
within the Christian church
00:28:09.46\00:28:12.41
who are being--
who are the recipients
00:28:12.44\00:28:14.92
of the message of the preacher
are actually going to want
00:28:14.95\00:28:18.70
to live according
to their sinful lusts."
00:28:18.73\00:28:21.31
Absolutely, but
it's worse than that.
00:28:21.34\00:28:25.41
You see not only
does the Apostle Paul say,
00:28:25.44\00:28:28.30
"That people within the
church are going to want to live
00:28:28.33\00:28:32.14
according to
their sinful lusts."
00:28:32.17\00:28:33.97
He says, "That
they're actually going to try
00:28:34.00\00:28:36.84
and justify what they're doing."
00:28:36.87\00:28:40.51
And this is where we come
00:28:40.54\00:28:41.57
to the next
portion of the passage.
00:28:41.60\00:28:44.14
The Apostle Paul
says "They will heap up."
00:28:44.17\00:28:51.35
The New International
Version translates it
00:28:51.38\00:28:53.69
"They will gather around them
a great number of teachers."
00:28:53.72\00:28:58.83
Now, you'll notice in
the New King James it says
00:28:58.86\00:29:01.67
"They'll heap
up for themselves."
00:29:01.70\00:29:05.85
This is a reflexive pronoun
which means that the teachers
00:29:05.88\00:29:09.34
are not coming and imposing
their will upon the church.
00:29:09.37\00:29:12.76
It's really the church itself
00:29:12.79\00:29:15.28
which is deciding to
pile up the teachers.
00:29:15.31\00:29:17.84
They are piling up the
teachers for themselves.
00:29:17.87\00:29:21.12
In other words, the church wants
00:29:21.15\00:29:23.43
these teachers to
be in their mists.
00:29:23.46\00:29:28.87
In other words, the
teachers are not responsible
00:29:28.90\00:29:32.75
those who are heaping up
the teachers are responsible.
00:29:32.78\00:29:37.56
Allow me to read
you a few statements
00:29:37.59\00:29:39.17
from the Spirit of
Prophecy on how Ellen White
00:29:39.20\00:29:41.88
saw the condition of the
church in her day and age.
00:29:41.91\00:29:46.08
What would she say today?
00:29:46.11\00:29:48.95
Great Controversy 523 she says
00:29:48.98\00:29:51.51
"Those who are
unwilling to accept the plain,
00:29:51.54\00:29:54.87
cutting truths of the Bible
00:29:54.90\00:29:57.14
are continually
seeking for pleasing fables
00:29:57.17\00:30:00.57
that will quiet the conscience.
00:30:00.60\00:30:03.45
The less
spiritual, self-denying,
00:30:03.48\00:30:07.24
and humiliating the
doctrines presented,
00:30:07.27\00:30:11.33
the greater the favor
with which they are received.
00:30:11.36\00:30:14.67
These persons degrade
the intellectual powers
00:30:14.70\00:30:17.83
to serve their carnal desires."
00:30:17.86\00:30:22.18
Early Writings page 273,
00:30:22.21\00:30:24.62
she is writing back in the 1840s
what I'm going to read now.
00:30:24.65\00:30:29.12
She says "I saw that
since the second angel
00:30:29.15\00:30:31.29
proclaimed the
fall of the churches,
00:30:31.32\00:30:33.60
they have been
growing more and more corrupt.
00:30:33.63\00:30:37.45
They bear the name of
being Christ's followers
00:30:37.48\00:30:40.91
yet it is impossible
00:30:40.94\00:30:42.46
to distinguish
them from the world.
00:30:42.49\00:30:45.78
Ministers take their
texts from the Word of God
00:30:45.81\00:30:49.29
but preach smooth things.
00:30:49.32\00:30:52.20
To this the natural
heart feels no objection.
00:30:52.23\00:30:55.75
It is only the spirit
and power of the truth
00:30:55.78\00:30:58.29
and the salvation of Christ
00:30:58.32\00:31:00.09
that are hateful
to the carnal heart.
00:31:00.12\00:31:03.50
There is nothing in
the popular ministry
00:31:03.53\00:31:05.23
that stirs the wrath of
Satan, makes the sinner tremble,
00:31:05.26\00:31:09.25
or applies to the
heart and conscience
00:31:09.28\00:31:12.05
the fearful realities
of a judgment soon to come.
00:31:12.08\00:31:16.08
Wicked men are generally pleased
00:31:16.11\00:31:18.21
with a form of piety
without true godliness,
00:31:18.24\00:31:21.76
and they will aid and
support such a religion."
00:31:21.79\00:31:26.95
In other statement which
we find in Early Writings,
00:31:26.98\00:31:29.30
227 and 228 this is
this is a sobering statement
00:31:29.33\00:31:33.70
the Lord's servant says this.
00:31:33.73\00:31:35.58
"I saw a very large company
professing the name of Christ,
00:31:35.61\00:31:40.90
but God does not
recognize them as His.
00:31:40.93\00:31:44.65
He had no pleasure in them.
00:31:44.68\00:31:47.14
Satan seemed to
assume a religious character
00:31:47.17\00:31:51.19
and was very willing
that the people should think
00:31:51.22\00:31:54.08
they were Christians.
00:31:54.11\00:31:56.12
He was even anxious that
they should believe in Jesus,
00:31:56.15\00:31:59.32
His crucifixion,
and His resurrection.
00:31:59.35\00:32:03.34
Satan and his
angels fully believe
00:32:03.37\00:32:05.33
all this
themselves, and tremble.
00:32:05.36\00:32:08.79
But if this faith does
not provoke to good works,
00:32:08.82\00:32:12.29
and lead those who
profess it to imitate
00:32:12.32\00:32:14.62
the self-denying life of Christ,
00:32:14.65\00:32:17.62
Satan is not disturbed
00:32:17.65\00:32:19.53
for they merely
assume the Christian name,
00:32:19.56\00:32:22.52
while their
hearts are still carnal,
00:32:22.55\00:32:25.45
and he can use
them in his service
00:32:25.48\00:32:27.82
even better than if
they made no profession.
00:32:27.85\00:32:31.66
Hiding their deformity
under the name of Christian,
00:32:31.69\00:32:36.20
they pass along with
their unsanctified natures,
00:32:36.23\00:32:39.45
and their evil
passions unsubdued.
00:32:39.48\00:32:42.79
This gives
occasion for the unbeliever
00:32:42.82\00:32:44.63
to reproach Christ
with their imperfections,
00:32:44.66\00:32:47.88
and causes those
who do possess pure
00:32:47.91\00:32:50.22
and undefiled religion to
be brought into disrepute."
00:32:50.25\00:32:54.80
Now she speaks about ministers
she says "The ministers preach
00:32:54.83\00:32:57.53
smooth things to
suit carnal professors.
00:32:57.56\00:33:01.35
They dare not preach Jesus
00:33:01.38\00:33:03.05
and the cutting
truths of the Bible
00:33:03.08\00:33:04.99
for if they should,
these carnal professors
00:33:05.02\00:33:08.33
would not remain in the church.
00:33:08.36\00:33:11.38
But as many of them are wealthy,
00:33:11.41\00:33:14.21
they must be retained,
00:33:14.24\00:33:16.07
although they are
no more fit to be there
00:33:16.10\00:33:18.86
than Satan and his angels.
00:33:18.89\00:33:21.29
This is just as
Satan would have it."
00:33:21.32\00:33:25.44
Powerful statements, you know,
you have heard what's happened
00:33:25.47\00:33:29.94
what's been happening
in the Christian world.
00:33:29.97\00:33:32.16
You know, they feel like they
need to impose the law of God.
00:33:32.19\00:33:36.43
They need to have it
00:33:36.46\00:33:37.63
as monuments in
front of court houses
00:33:37.66\00:33:39.95
because they see
that things slipping away.
00:33:39.98\00:33:42.08
But listen folks,
lives are not changed
00:33:42.11\00:33:44.90
by posting the Ten
Commandments in a court of law.
00:33:44.93\00:33:48.72
Lives are changed by
implanting the holy law of God
00:33:48.75\00:33:51.65
in the heart of the human being
00:33:51.68\00:33:53.52
to overcome the
sinful desires in the heart.
00:33:53.55\00:33:56.83
You see, people want
to be called Christians
00:33:56.86\00:33:58.58
but they want to continue
living their worldly lifestyle.
00:33:58.61\00:34:01.65
And the Apostle Paul says
"Timothy the time is coming
00:34:01.68\00:34:05.25
when they're not going
to endure sound teaching.
00:34:05.28\00:34:08.30
They're going to
pile up teachers.
00:34:08.33\00:34:10.06
That they'll teach them
00:34:10.09\00:34:11.43
that they can live in there
with their sinful desires."
00:34:11.46\00:34:16.41
Now I want you to notice
of interesting expression
00:34:16.44\00:34:18.72
that the Apostle Paul uses.
00:34:18.75\00:34:20.47
He says, because they
have what? Itching ears.
00:34:20.50\00:34:27.64
Now what does that
mean they have itching ears?
00:34:27.67\00:34:30.41
Basically what the
Apostle Paul's says
00:34:30.44\00:34:32.08
is they're going
to pile up teachers
00:34:32.11\00:34:33.93
they'll tell them
what they want to hear.
00:34:33.96\00:34:37.15
They will pile up teachers
that will tickle their ear
00:34:37.18\00:34:39.74
if you please or as the NIV
expresses it "they'll gather
00:34:39.77\00:34:43.40
around them a great
number of teachers to say
00:34:43.43\00:34:47.97
what they're
itching ears want to hear."
00:34:48.00\00:34:53.86
We hear a lot in the world today
00:34:53.89\00:34:55.90
and even in the church about
meeting people's felt needs.
00:34:55.93\00:35:01.69
By fear that many
times these felt needs
00:35:01.72\00:35:04.27
are not really
needs, they're felt wants.
00:35:04.30\00:35:08.32
Let me illustrate what I mean.
00:35:08.35\00:35:10.93
Let's suppose you have itch
00:35:10.96\00:35:14.03
what do you think
you're most immediate need is.
00:35:14.06\00:35:17.64
To scratch, absolutely.
00:35:17.67\00:35:20.39
Your most
immediate need is to scratch.
00:35:20.42\00:35:24.48
But is it perhaps the
case that this might not be
00:35:24.51\00:35:27.38
your most immediate need
but your most immediate want?
00:35:27.41\00:35:32.45
Let's suppose that
that itch that you have
00:35:32.48\00:35:36.80
that you satisfy by
scratching it is skin cancer.
00:35:36.83\00:35:43.04
Would you say that
00:35:43.07\00:35:44.10
you're most immediate
need would be scratching it?
00:35:44.13\00:35:47.77
Absolutely not.
00:35:47.80\00:35:49.55
What was your
most immediate need be?
00:35:49.58\00:35:52.85
It will be to go to the doctor
to get the real problem what?
00:35:52.88\00:35:57.26
To get the real problem fixed.
00:35:57.29\00:36:00.22
You see many times we just want
to supply our immediate need
00:36:00.25\00:36:05.60
and it's really not a need
it is a what, it is a want.
00:36:05.63\00:36:11.61
And we don't want to supply
00:36:11.64\00:36:13.79
what we really need
but what we really want.
00:36:13.82\00:36:18.13
You know in Jeremiah's day
the same thing was happening.
00:36:18.16\00:36:22.20
Jeremiah 5:31 we're told
"The prophets prophesy falsely,
00:36:22.23\00:36:28.72
and the priests they
rule by their own means.
00:36:28.75\00:36:32.82
And My people
love to have it so."
00:36:32.85\00:36:38.43
You know, I'm not much on
the, up on the living Bible
00:36:38.46\00:36:42.46
but sometimes I
read a paraphrase to see
00:36:42.49\00:36:44.88
if it catches sense of the text.
00:36:44.91\00:36:47.85
I like the Living Bible in
verse 3 this is what it says.
00:36:47.88\00:36:51.41
"For there is
going to come a time
00:36:51.44\00:36:52.97
when people won't
listen to the truth
00:36:53.00\00:36:56.73
but will go around
looking for teachers
00:36:56.76\00:36:59.19
who will tell them just
what they want to hear."
00:36:59.22\00:37:05.64
Are you catching what the
Apostle Paul is saying here?
00:37:05.67\00:37:09.28
Let's notice again
00:37:09.31\00:37:11.54
the Apostle Paul says
"I charge you under oath."
00:37:11.57\00:37:14.80
This is under oath
that I'm saying this
00:37:14.83\00:37:17.63
before God and
before Jesus Christ
00:37:17.66\00:37:21.22
who is gonna judge me if
I don't say it under oath.
00:37:21.25\00:37:24.66
He says preach the Word.
00:37:24.69\00:37:27.77
By the way in context
that's the written scriptures
00:37:27.80\00:37:31.10
the holy inspired
written scriptures.
00:37:31.13\00:37:33.87
"Preach the word, be ready
in season and out of season."
00:37:33.90\00:37:37.10
In other words, be ready
to preach any time any place.
00:37:37.13\00:37:41.69
"Convinced, rebuke,
exhort with great patience
00:37:41.72\00:37:48.97
and by teaching as a method."
00:37:49.00\00:37:52.22
Now why?
00:37:52.25\00:37:54.13
It says "For the time will
come when they'll not endure,
00:37:54.16\00:37:57.00
they'll not
tolerate sound doctrine."
00:37:57.03\00:37:58.68
Now the doctrine is
spoken of as content
00:37:58.71\00:38:00.97
not as the method of
teaching but content.
00:38:01.00\00:38:03.56
People will not put up
00:38:03.59\00:38:04.98
with sound
doctrine as doctrine itself.
00:38:05.01\00:38:09.50
"But according to their
own desires their own lusts
00:38:09.53\00:38:14.47
because they have itching ears
00:38:14.50\00:38:17.11
they'll heap up for
themselves teachers."
00:38:17.14\00:38:23.06
Basically,
teachers who will teach them
00:38:23.09\00:38:25.39
what they want to hear.
00:38:25.42\00:38:29.82
And now I want you notice
what the end result of this is.
00:38:29.85\00:38:34.53
We're told at the
end of this passage
00:38:34.56\00:38:37.84
"and they'll turn their
ears away from the truth."
00:38:37.87\00:38:41.94
Who does the turning here.
00:38:41.97\00:38:44.49
The same one who
heaped up teachers right.
00:38:44.52\00:38:47.17
This is their action as a
result of piling up teachers
00:38:47.20\00:38:50.81
they'll teach them
what they want to hear,
00:38:50.84\00:38:53.47
what will they do?
00:38:53.50\00:38:55.36
They'll not only listen
to what they want to hear
00:38:55.39\00:38:58.00
but they will
turn away their ears
00:38:58.03\00:38:59.70
from hearing the truth.
00:38:59.73\00:39:02.67
But now I want you to notice
00:39:02.70\00:39:04.07
a very interesting
nuance here in the text.
00:39:04.10\00:39:07.79
It says "they'll turn
their ears away from the truth"
00:39:07.82\00:39:10.97
and now notice "and be
turned aside to fables."
00:39:11.00\00:39:17.73
That's an important
expression, be turned aside.
00:39:17.76\00:39:21.38
Notice that this
is not their action
00:39:21.41\00:39:24.56
this is someone else's actions
00:39:24.59\00:39:26.08
because that's
passive, they will be turned.
00:39:26.11\00:39:28.86
They're not doing it.
Somebody else is doing to them.
00:39:28.89\00:39:33.11
In other words, they'll turn
their ears away from the truth
00:39:33.14\00:39:35.93
and as a result someone
will turn them to fables.
00:39:35.96\00:39:41.02
They will be turned to fables.
00:39:41.05\00:39:45.44
And you'll say, what
you are talking about?
00:39:45.47\00:39:47.64
The fact is folks,
00:39:47.67\00:39:48.78
that when we turn
away our ear from the truth
00:39:48.81\00:39:53.93
we're allowing free
reign for Satan to come in
00:39:53.96\00:39:57.59
and delude us for Satan
to come in and deceive us.
00:39:57.62\00:40:02.36
That's what this
passage is talking about.
00:40:02.39\00:40:05.44
In fact, they'll
become victims of Satan
00:40:05.47\00:40:08.64
because they've
chosen to pile up teachers
00:40:08.67\00:40:11.22
who'll teach them
what they want to hear,
00:40:11.25\00:40:12.99
they turn away
their ears from the truths
00:40:13.02\00:40:15.44
and as a result
they're at the mercy of Satan.
00:40:15.47\00:40:18.22
They will be
turned aside to fables.
00:40:18.25\00:40:22.86
It makes me think of
that parallel passage
00:40:22.89\00:40:24.74
in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-13
00:40:24.77\00:40:26.85
which we studied a few weeks ago
speaking about the lawless one.
00:40:26.88\00:40:30.49
It says "The
coming of the lawless one
00:40:30.52\00:40:32.02
is according to
the working of Satan,
00:40:32.05\00:40:34.14
with all power,
signs, and lying wonders,
00:40:34.17\00:40:37.36
and with all unrighteous
deception among those
00:40:37.39\00:40:39.66
who perish" now why
do they perish notice?
00:40:39.69\00:40:42.20
"Because they did
not receive," what?
00:40:42.23\00:40:45.02
The love of the truth
that they might be saved."
00:40:45.05\00:40:48.77
So because they did not
receive the love of the truth
00:40:48.80\00:40:52.20
what is gonna happen?
00:40:52.23\00:40:54.23
It says "And for this reason
God will send them," what?
00:40:54.26\00:40:57.47
"Strong illusion."
00:40:57.50\00:40:58.53
God doesn't do it,
it was their choice.
00:40:58.56\00:41:00.39
They turned away
their ear from the truth,
00:41:00.42\00:41:01.69
they didn't want
the love of the truth
00:41:01.72\00:41:03.21
so God says okay you
don't want the love of the truth
00:41:03.24\00:41:05.53
you want to hear
what you want to hear
00:41:05.56\00:41:08.16
and you pile up teachers that
will you what you want to hear.
00:41:08.19\00:41:10.53
That's fine.
00:41:10.56\00:41:11.59
You turn away your
ears from the truth.
00:41:11.62\00:41:13.63
And now who
steps in. Satan does.
00:41:13.66\00:41:17.39
In fact, it says in verse 11
00:41:17.42\00:41:19.09
"And for this reason God
will send them strong delusion,
00:41:19.12\00:41:21.82
that they
should believe the lie,
00:41:21.85\00:41:24.48
that they all may be condemned
00:41:24.51\00:41:25.69
who did not believe the truth
00:41:25.72\00:41:27.79
but had pleasure
in unrighteousness."
00:41:27.82\00:41:31.97
You know, we live
in a postmodern world
00:41:32.00\00:41:35.85
where people don't want to know
00:41:35.88\00:41:37.05
anything about
truth, absolute truths.
00:41:37.08\00:41:40.97
In fact, even in the
church we hear people saying
00:41:41.00\00:41:43.03
don't talk to me about doctrine
00:41:43.06\00:41:44.89
or don't talk to me about truth.
00:41:44.92\00:41:46.96
What we need is a personal
relationship with Jesus.
00:41:46.99\00:41:52.35
I agree we need a
personal relationship with Jesus
00:41:52.38\00:41:55.23
but that personal relationship
with Jesus cannot be a genuine
00:41:55.26\00:41:58.91
personal relationship with Jesus
00:41:58.94\00:42:00.59
unless we have
the doctrine right.
00:42:00.62\00:42:06.29
Let me give you an
example of what I mean,
00:42:06.32\00:42:09.18
The "State of
the Dead," doctrine.
00:42:09.21\00:42:11.45
You know, I have often wondered
how Ellen White could say,
00:42:11.48\00:42:13.58
that the devil is
going to deceive many
00:42:13.61\00:42:16.42
Seventh-day
Adventist to think that those
00:42:16.45\00:42:18.74
who are appearing to them
are really departed relatives
00:42:18.77\00:42:21.36
when they're really
the spirits of devils.
00:42:21.39\00:42:24.41
Mean as Adventist we're saying
00:42:24.44\00:42:25.47
we know that the Bible
says "that the living know
00:42:25.50\00:42:27.74
they will die the
dead know nothing."
00:42:27.77\00:42:30.04
I'll never be deceived
because the Bible is so clear.
00:42:30.07\00:42:35.23
How in the world
00:42:35.26\00:42:36.62
could a Seventh-day
Adventist be deceived
00:42:36.65\00:42:38.52
on a such a
fundamental doctrine as this?
00:42:38.55\00:42:41.68
I believe there is all ways.
00:42:41.71\00:42:44.80
Number one, Satan will
saturate the media with films
00:42:44.83\00:42:48.84
which relentlessly teach
the reality of life after death.
00:42:48.87\00:42:53.62
Is he doing that?
00:42:53.65\00:42:55.36
Do the people
actually come to believe
00:42:55.39\00:42:56.83
what they watch even if
they say, oh this is fiction,
00:42:56.86\00:42:58.76
this is
fiction, this is fiction.
00:42:58.79\00:42:59.99
No, eventually you
come to believe it.
00:43:00.02\00:43:02.79
Other church
members come and ask me
00:43:02.82\00:43:04.08
for example about
the Da Vinci Code.
00:43:04.11\00:43:08.46
Hello, Pastor Bohr, how much
truth is there in this book?
00:43:08.49\00:43:13.63
None.
00:43:13.66\00:43:16.46
Oh, the Gospel of Judas,
new revelation about Judas.
00:43:16.49\00:43:19.69
What are we studying our Bibles?
00:43:19.72\00:43:25.62
Do we really know what the Bible
teaches about Mary Magdalene?
00:43:25.65\00:43:30.89
You know, I was mentioning
in my classes this morning,
00:43:30.92\00:43:33.07
I bet if I did a survey
here of those who are present
00:43:33.10\00:43:37.53
and where that text
is found unto 2300 days
00:43:37.56\00:43:40.33
and the
sanctuary will be cleansed
00:43:40.36\00:43:42.14
you wouldn't able to tell
me book chapter and verse.
00:43:42.17\00:43:47.12
And that's the fundamental verse
00:43:47.15\00:43:49.67
that makes the Seventh-day
Adventist church what it is.
00:43:49.70\00:43:53.77
So I believe that
devil is gonna use the media
00:43:53.80\00:43:55.90
and he is using the media
00:43:55.93\00:43:57.55
to just bombard
you with the idea
00:43:57.58\00:43:59.08
that the dead really are dead.
00:43:59.11\00:44:01.02
Secondly he is
gonna use operations.
00:44:01.05\00:44:03.70
Spirit of
Prophecy tells us this,
00:44:03.73\00:44:05.61
undeniably
appearances of individuals
00:44:05.64\00:44:07.68
who look just like
our relatives, same voice.
00:44:07.71\00:44:12.68
Third she says,
that these individuals
00:44:12.71\00:44:15.04
are gonna perform miracles,
00:44:15.07\00:44:16.76
undeniable
miracles in our sight.
00:44:16.79\00:44:20.31
And forth, she seems to imply
00:44:20.34\00:44:22.10
that these entities are
actually gonna use Bible verses
00:44:22.13\00:44:25.21
because they're gonna know that
00:44:25.24\00:44:26.40
we are gonna
say "wait a minutes.
00:44:26.43\00:44:28.66
The Bible says that the
dead don't know anything."
00:44:28.69\00:44:31.11
And so they're gonna have verses
00:44:31.14\00:44:32.35
saying may be you
belief wasn't right.
00:44:32.38\00:44:36.70
And then they're gonna say
00:44:36.73\00:44:37.76
what about the
rich man and Lazarus,
00:44:37.79\00:44:39.00
what about the Witch of Endor,
00:44:39.03\00:44:40.49
what about the
thief on the cross,
00:44:40.52\00:44:42.27
what about
Paul's desire to depart,
00:44:42.30\00:44:43.98
what about absent from the
body and present with the Lord,
00:44:44.01\00:44:46.38
what about Jesus preaching
to the spirits in prison?
00:44:46.41\00:44:51.18
Folks, if we don't have
those ideas clear in our minds,
00:44:51.21\00:44:55.93
settled in our
minds we'll be flatter
00:44:55.96\00:45:00.01
for apostatizing from the faith.
00:45:00.04\00:45:04.04
Notice what
Ellen White has to say
00:45:04.07\00:45:05.46
about this powerful delusion.
00:45:05.49\00:45:07.17
Great
Controversy, page 552 she says
00:45:07.20\00:45:10.05
"He has" notice the devil
"Has power to bring before men
00:45:10.08\00:45:13.12
the appearance of
their departed friends."
00:45:13.15\00:45:16.46
The counterfeit is perfect.
00:45:16.49\00:45:19.10
Do you know what a
perfect counterfeit is, folks?
00:45:19.13\00:45:22.15
It's where the
federal government can't tell
00:45:22.18\00:45:24.12
the difference between a genuine
hundred dollar bill and a false
00:45:24.15\00:45:27.80
or a counterfeit
one hundred dollar bill.
00:45:27.83\00:45:30.43
She says "The
counterfeit is perfect,
00:45:30.46\00:45:32.23
the familiar look,
the words, the tone,
00:45:32.26\00:45:34.88
are reproduced with
marvelous distinctness.
00:45:34.91\00:45:38.24
Many are
comforted with the assurance
00:45:38.27\00:45:39.71
that their loved ones are
enjoying the bliss of heaven,
00:45:39.74\00:45:41.90
and without suspicion of danger,
00:45:41.93\00:45:43.61
they give ear
'to seducing spirits,
00:45:43.64\00:45:45.45
and doctrines of devils.'
00:45:45.48\00:45:46.78
" Great Controversy
page 552, page 593 she says
00:45:46.81\00:45:51.47
"This Antichrist is to perform
00:45:51.50\00:45:53.22
his marvelous
works in our sight.
00:45:53.25\00:45:55.69
So closely will the
counterfeit resemble the true
00:45:55.72\00:45:59.14
that it will be impossible
to distinguish between them
00:45:59.17\00:46:02.69
except by the Holy Scriptures.
00:46:02.72\00:46:05.07
By their
testimony every statement
00:46:05.10\00:46:07.62
and every
miracle must be tested."
00:46:07.65\00:46:12.05
But how can we
test it with the Word
00:46:12.08\00:46:13.51
if we don't know the Word?
00:46:13.54\00:46:15.95
You know, Jesus
knew how to answer
00:46:15.98\00:46:17.87
the devil it is
written because He knew
00:46:17.90\00:46:21.79
where it was written.
00:46:21.82\00:46:23.56
I fear that with
many Adventist these days
00:46:23.59\00:46:26.18
we can answer it is written
00:46:26.21\00:46:27.97
because we don't
know where it is written.
00:46:28.00\00:46:30.37
And perhaps, I go a step further
00:46:30.40\00:46:33.37
we can't answer
the devil it is written
00:46:33.40\00:46:35.48
because we don't
even know if it's written.
00:46:35.51\00:46:39.17
The fact is that Adventist need
00:46:39.20\00:46:40.81
to be the people
of the book again.
00:46:40.84\00:46:43.04
We need to sit down and struggle
00:46:43.07\00:46:44.71
with the great
themes of Holy Scripture,
00:46:44.74\00:46:46.93
we need to settle
them in our minds,
00:46:46.96\00:46:48.64
we need to understand them,
00:46:48.67\00:46:49.72
we need to be
able to explain them.
00:46:49.75\00:46:53.82
Great Controversy 625
Ellen White says "Only those
00:46:53.85\00:46:57.13
who have been diligent
students of the scriptures
00:46:57.16\00:47:00.13
and who have received the love
of the truth will be shielded
00:47:00.16\00:47:04.76
from the power for delusion
that takes the world captive.
00:47:04.79\00:47:08.27
By the Bible
testimony these will detect
00:47:08.30\00:47:11.07
the deceiver in his disguise
00:47:11.10\00:47:14.03
to all the
testing time will come.
00:47:14.06\00:47:17.37
By the sifting of temptation
00:47:17.40\00:47:19.88
the genuine
Christian will be revealed."
00:47:19.91\00:47:22.42
And now notice this.
00:47:22.45\00:47:24.01
"Are the people of God now
00:47:24.04\00:47:26.30
so firmly
established upon his word
00:47:26.33\00:47:30.31
that they would not yield
to the evidence of their sense.
00:47:30.34\00:47:34.47
Would they such a crisis cling
00:47:34.50\00:47:37.51
to the Bible
and the Bible only."
00:47:37.54\00:47:43.69
One final
statement from Ellen White
00:47:43.72\00:47:45.49
on this doctrine of
the State of the Dead.
00:47:45.52\00:47:47.48
Early Writings page 87 she says
00:47:47.51\00:47:50.02
"Satan will have
power to bring before us."
00:47:50.05\00:47:53.21
That's Adventist.
00:47:53.24\00:47:54.52
"The appearance of forms
purporting to be our relatives
00:47:54.55\00:47:59.07
or friends now
sleeping in Jesus.
00:47:59.10\00:48:01.94
It will be made to appear
00:48:01.97\00:48:03.57
as if these
friends were present.
00:48:03.60\00:48:05.93
The words that
they uttered while here
00:48:05.96\00:48:09.08
with which we were familiar
00:48:09.11\00:48:11.13
will be spoken in
the same tone of voice
00:48:11.16\00:48:13.87
that they have while
living will fall upon the ear.
00:48:13.90\00:48:17.50
All this is to
deceive the saints."
00:48:17.53\00:48:21.60
Not the world "to deceive
the saints and in snare them
00:48:21.63\00:48:25.56
in the belief of this delusion."
00:48:25.59\00:48:27.83
And then she
gives us the antidote.
00:48:27.86\00:48:29.70
She says "I saw
that the saints must get
00:48:29.73\00:48:32.70
a through
understanding of present truth
00:48:32.73\00:48:37.11
which they will be obliged
to maintain from the scriptures.
00:48:37.14\00:48:42.13
They must understand
the state of the dead."
00:48:42.16\00:48:47.07
What must we understand?
00:48:47.10\00:48:50.22
Have you ever sat down
to struggle with the passage
00:48:50.25\00:48:52.14
about the rich man and Lazarus?
00:48:52.17\00:48:55.20
Do you know how to explain that?
00:48:55.23\00:48:57.26
Is that clear in your mind?
00:48:57.29\00:48:59.09
Do you know how to
explain absent from the body
00:48:59.12\00:49:01.19
and present with the Lord?
00:49:01.22\00:49:04.57
Do we know how to
explain the passage that says
00:49:04.60\00:49:07.18
"that Jesus went to
preach to the spirits imprison."
00:49:07.21\00:49:09.04
Folks, it is we're not persuaded
if we don't understand these.
00:49:09.07\00:49:12.23
If we have any doubt
00:49:12.26\00:49:13.57
the devil can take
advantage of that doubt.
00:49:13.60\00:49:16.97
She says "They must
understand the state of the dead
00:49:17.00\00:49:19.39
for the spirits of
devils will yet appear to them,
00:49:19.42\00:49:22.29
professing to be
beloved friends and relatives,
00:49:22.32\00:49:25.28
who will declare to them
00:49:25.31\00:49:26.41
that the
Sabbath has been changed
00:49:26.44\00:49:28.54
also other
unscriptural doctrines.
00:49:28.57\00:49:31.79
They will do all in
their power to excite sympathy,
00:49:31.82\00:49:34.75
and will work
miracles before them,
00:49:34.78\00:49:37.60
to confirm what they declare.
00:49:37.63\00:49:41.02
The people of
God must be prepared
00:49:41.05\00:49:42.89
to withstand these
spirits with the Bible truth
00:49:42.92\00:49:46.23
that the dead know not anything,
00:49:46.26\00:49:48.55
and that they who appear to them
00:49:48.58\00:49:51.17
are the spirits of devils."
00:49:51.20\00:49:55.00
You know I believe that
00:49:55.03\00:49:56.06
we need to study
scripture to feed our hearts.
00:49:56.09\00:50:02.13
I believe that
but I believe that
00:50:02.16\00:50:04.76
we also need to
study scripture to feed
00:50:04.79\00:50:07.86
and strengthen our minds.
00:50:07.89\00:50:11.42
It's not enough to just
study the Bible devotionally
00:50:11.45\00:50:15.36
we must struggle
according to Ellen White
00:50:15.39\00:50:17.35
with the great
themes of scriptures.
00:50:17.38\00:50:20.64
Bible study must feed the
heart and it must feed the mind.
00:50:20.67\00:50:24.82
It must be analyzed
with unimpassioned reason
00:50:24.85\00:50:28.83
and it also must
touch our affections.
00:50:28.86\00:50:32.98
It much reach the left brain
00:50:33.01\00:50:35.00
and it must reach
the right brain as well.
00:50:35.03\00:50:39.03
But sometimes
we are so caught up
00:50:39.06\00:50:40.36
in the relationship aspect,
00:50:40.39\00:50:42.46
in the feeling aspect
in the devotional aspect,
00:50:42.49\00:50:46.68
that we really
sit down and struggle
00:50:46.71\00:50:49.18
with the great
complex problematic issues
00:50:49.21\00:50:53.36
that we find in
scripture to give a reason
00:50:53.39\00:50:55.87
for the faith
that is found in us.
00:50:55.90\00:51:00.45
Now folks, a few years ago
a great preacher by the name
00:51:00.48\00:51:06.54
of Norman Vincent
Peale you know who he was.
00:51:06.57\00:51:10.89
The power of positive
thinking, do you remember?
00:51:10.92\00:51:13.93
His biggest
disciple in the world today
00:51:13.96\00:51:15.85
as Robert Schuller
from the Crystal Cathedral
00:51:15.88\00:51:18.77
down in Orange County
in Southern California.
00:51:18.80\00:51:23.08
Do you know Norman Vincent Peale
00:51:23.11\00:51:25.53
this Presbyterian
preacher claims to have seen
00:51:25.56\00:51:31.59
his dead father
singing in the church choir?
00:51:31.62\00:51:37.90
Says he looked and
he saw his dead father
00:51:37.93\00:51:40.03
singing in the church choir.
00:51:40.06\00:51:42.36
And he claims that one day
in his study his mother came
00:51:42.39\00:51:46.21
and tapped him on the shoulder.
00:51:46.24\00:51:50.31
Now when he was asked
00:51:50.34\00:51:51.48
how did he know it was
his father and his mother
00:51:51.51\00:51:53.26
listened to the
reasons that he gave?
00:51:53.29\00:51:55.24
He said, first of all I
saw him with my own eyes.
00:51:55.27\00:51:59.79
Secondly he said
instinct whispers
00:51:59.82\00:52:02.54
that the death is not end.
00:52:02.57\00:52:06.86
Third he said
reason confirms it.
00:52:06.89\00:52:11.64
Fourth he says psychic
phenomena even supported.
00:52:11.67\00:52:17.00
And finally he
said even science insist
00:52:17.03\00:52:19.68
that the universe is
more spiritual than material.
00:52:19.71\00:52:24.71
In his answer not once
that he ever quote scripture.
00:52:24.74\00:52:29.87
Now if that's happening
outside the Adventist church
00:52:29.90\00:52:35.45
could it happen within the
Seventh-day Adventist church?
00:52:35.48\00:52:40.79
You see folks, we need an
external trustworthy standard
00:52:40.82\00:52:45.25
outside of ourselves
to evaluate everything.
00:52:45.28\00:52:48.66
We can't trust impressions,
intuitions, feelings,
00:52:48.69\00:52:51.38
emotions, miracles,
science, preachers, voices,
00:52:51.41\00:52:54.61
none of that is trustworthy.
00:52:54.64\00:52:57.36
We can only trust
fully and completely
00:52:57.39\00:52:59.93
the holy word of God
but to trust the word of God
00:52:59.96\00:53:02.21
we must know it.
00:53:02.24\00:53:03.96
And in order to
know we must study it.
00:53:03.99\00:53:07.93
So when the
preacher gets up and preaches
00:53:07.96\00:53:10.76
a strong message
don't storm the preacher.
00:53:10.79\00:53:16.47
You know we need to take
it to heart when we sit down.
00:53:16.50\00:53:18.22
Well, may be what
he is saying is right.
00:53:18.25\00:53:21.77
May be there needs to
be a change in my life.
00:53:21.80\00:53:25.90
You know and
perhaps it would help
00:53:25.93\00:53:27.30
if I sat down and
study this in a fuller way.
00:53:27.33\00:53:32.75
You know, when I get up
and preach it's sometimes
00:53:32.78\00:53:34.91
it sounds like I'm
scolding the church.
00:53:34.94\00:53:36.35
Well, you know, I preach
to myself every time I preach
00:53:36.38\00:53:39.90
because I'm in the same boat.
00:53:39.93\00:53:42.45
But I want you to know that
00:53:42.48\00:53:43.51
I have a
passion for these things
00:53:43.54\00:53:44.70
because I really
believe that we are living
00:53:44.73\00:53:46.27
in the last moments of time.
00:53:46.30\00:53:49.30
And the Spirit of Prophecy
tells us that the majority
00:53:49.33\00:53:52.74
of those one in the
church are gonna forsake us.
00:53:52.77\00:53:56.79
It says
multitudes are gonna leave
00:53:56.82\00:54:00.18
like the blowing
leaves of autumn.
00:54:00.21\00:54:02.59
That's sad, that's tragic it
never has to happen that way.
00:54:02.62\00:54:07.66
You see folks, we need
to take the Word of God
00:54:07.69\00:54:10.02
and we need to make
it a part of our lives.
00:54:10.05\00:54:12.27
We need to dedicate time to
the study of God's holy word.
00:54:12.30\00:54:15.78
Set aside all those
things that consume our time
00:54:15.81\00:54:18.84
and get down to
business and study that
00:54:18.87\00:54:20.96
which will truly feed our soul,
00:54:20.99\00:54:23.01
that will truly feed our mind.
00:54:23.04\00:54:25.84
You know, you can
go to a grocery store
00:54:25.87\00:54:29.53
and you can see all these
wonderful products in the shelf.
00:54:29.56\00:54:33.79
Do you know that those products
00:54:33.82\00:54:35.01
on the shelf are
not gonna do any good?
00:54:35.04\00:54:39.30
Right.
00:54:39.33\00:54:40.82
Oh, I love to go
to grocery stores.
00:54:40.85\00:54:45.52
You know, look at
all the good food.
00:54:45.55\00:54:48.79
You know what, none of
that will do you any good
00:54:48.82\00:54:53.24
unless you take the
food home, you prepare it,
00:54:53.27\00:54:58.88
you put it in your
mouth, you chew it,
00:54:58.91\00:55:03.42
you swallow it
and you digest it.
00:55:03.45\00:55:08.60
You know this book on the shelf
00:55:08.63\00:55:11.74
is just like food
in a grocery store.
00:55:11.77\00:55:15.76
Oh, yeah, there is
lot of good food in here.
00:55:15.79\00:55:18.92
But unless we're opening
it, unless we are chewing it,
00:55:18.95\00:55:24.52
unless we are swallowing
it, unless we are digesting it,
00:55:24.55\00:55:29.81
it is doing
absolutely no good to us.
00:55:29.84\00:55:34.15
You know that is what I'm
saying folks, is that we need
00:55:34.18\00:55:36.65
to take the Bible, we're
need to place the Bible inside
00:55:36.68\00:55:39.85
and by the way we eat
through our mouth physically.
00:55:39.88\00:55:44.94
We eat through our eyes
and our ears spiritually.
00:55:44.97\00:55:51.09
I like to read a text
00:55:51.12\00:55:52.34
which I have read
many times before.
00:55:52.37\00:55:55.83
It's so beautiful that
it bears reading again.
00:55:55.86\00:55:59.46
Psalm 119:9-11.
00:55:59.49\00:56:01.69
You know we talk a
lot about the crisis
00:56:01.72\00:56:03.40
among our youth and everything.
00:56:03.43\00:56:05.89
You know the devil is
wanting to steal the youth.
00:56:05.92\00:56:09.14
And you know how his
most successful method
00:56:09.17\00:56:11.13
is been inventing
all kinds of distractions
00:56:11.16\00:56:13.55
so they're not in the
word and they're not in prayer
00:56:13.58\00:56:15.79
they're not in
church, church is boring
00:56:15.82\00:56:18.17
because the church can't
compete with the exciting things
00:56:18.20\00:56:20.28
that you'll see on television
00:56:20.31\00:56:21.34
with video
games, we can't compete.
00:56:21.37\00:56:26.78
What is the real
secret for having a youth
00:56:26.81\00:56:30.25
which is alive,
which is thriving?
00:56:30.28\00:56:33.47
Psalm 119:9-11,
00:56:33.50\00:56:37.54
Psalm 119:9-11
00:56:37.57\00:56:41.88
here David is speaking
particularly to the youth
00:56:41.91\00:56:43.98
and he says "How a young
man can cleanse his way?"
00:56:44.01\00:56:50.67
What's the answer?
00:56:50.70\00:56:52.87
"By taking heed
according to your word."
00:56:52.90\00:56:59.21
Then he says "With my
whole heart I have sought you.
00:56:59.24\00:57:03.73
Oh, let me not wander
from your commandments."
00:57:03.76\00:57:07.66
And here comes the
key portion of the passage
00:57:07.69\00:57:10.04
"Your word I have
hidden in my heart,
00:57:10.07\00:57:16.72
that I might no
sin against You."
00:57:16.75\00:57:20.54
How about it, folks?
00:57:20.57\00:57:22.34
How about
getting down to business
00:57:22.37\00:57:24.07
and filling our minds
and hearts with God's word.
00:57:24.10\00:57:27.74